Vacuum cleaner construction



Feb. 23, 1937.. COURT 2,071,614

- VACUUM CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 3, 1936 INVEIVTOR KENNETH COURT A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Kenneth Court,

Detroit, Mich,

assignor to Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 3, 1936, Serial No. 83,397

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners and refers more particularly to portable vacuum cleaners of the type embodying a handle for propelling the same over the surface to be cleaned.

One of the principal objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a vacuum cleaner of the foregoing type wherein the handle is normally supported in a convenient position for manipulation by the operator by means of a latch releasable upon manipulation of a control to permit locating the handle in a position wherein the cleaner may be moved by the handle into a space of a height approximating the height of the housing without interference from the handle.

Another advantageous feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a latch for the purpose set forth embodying a control conveniently positioned for manipulation by the operators foot to release the latch, and embodying means effective upon movement of the handle to its normal operative position to automatically re-engage the latch.

A further object of this invention consists in they provision of a latch of the character previously set forth rendering it possible to tilt the cleaner housing by depressing the operating handle and this is desirable in that it facilitates cleaning small throw rugs. In other words, tilting the housing by the operating handle permits raising the suction nozzle sufliciently to allow the same to be readily passed over a throw rug, and it also reduces the suction to such an extent as to prevent lifting of the rugs by the suction force.

In addition tothe foregoing, the present invention contemplates latch mechanism of the character set forth composed of a relatively few simple parts capable of being readily manufactured, assembled, and installed.

The above, as well as other objects, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a vacuum cleaner equipped with latch mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view featuring the latch mechanism;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, it will be noted that there is illustrated in Figure 1, a vacuum cleaner l0 having a housing 5 II containing the suction producing mechanism (not shown) and having a handle [2 operatively connected to the housing II by means of a bail I3. The furcations of the bail l3 are disposed on opposite sides of the housing II and are integrally connected at the rear ends thereof by means of a socket l4 having provision for rigidly clamping the lower end of the handle l2 therein. It will, of course, be understood that the housing II is supported by a plurality of casters IE to permit the cleaning unit located in the house to be moved over the surface to be cleaned by the handle l2, and insofar as the present invention is concerned, the casters may be connected to the housing in any suitable manner.

The forward end portions of the furcations on the bail 13 are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the housing H in the manner indicated in Figure 4 to permit the handle 12 to 5 be swung from the full line position thereof, shown in Figure 1, to the dotted line position of the same, illustrated in the same figure. Upon reference to Figure 4, it will be noted that the pivots for the bail l3 of the handle are pro,- vided with internally threaded sleeves l6 secured to the opposite side walls of the housing H and in any suitable manner and forming journals for the hub portions I l on the furcations. The furcations are secured in assembled 35 relation with the sleeves l6 by means of the tap screws I8 having threaded shank portions l9 threadedly secured in the sleeves l6 and having head portions 20 located within the recesses 2| formed in the outer sides of the furcations. 40 The construction is such that the furcations of the bail are slightly tensioned by the tap screws 20 when the latter are secured within the sleeves iii, with the result that shifting of the handle axially of the pivots is prevented. 45

In accordance with this invention, the handle I2 is normally held in the position thereof shown by the full lines of Figure 1 by latch mechanism releasable upon manipulation of a control to permit the handle to be moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, wherein the same is substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned and permits the housing to be moved by the handle within a space approximating the height of the housing. In the present instance, the latch mechanism, for accomplishing the above result, is associated with the furcation 22 of the bail l3, and comprises a latch plate 23 pivotally supported at the inner side of the furcation 22 on a depending extension 24 of the furcation by means of a friction pivot joint 25 spaced below the axis of pivotal connection of the furcation 22 with the housing I l. The friction pivot 25 comprises a stud 26 anchored in the lower end portion of the plate 23 and having a laterally outwardly extending shank portion 21 sleeved within the depending extension 26 on the furcation 22 and internally threaded to receive the tap screw 28. The tap screw 28 cooperates with the stud to frictionally clamp the plate to the adjacent side of the furcation 22, and at the same time, renders it possible to swing the plate 23 relative to the furcation about an axis parallel to, but spaced from the axis of the pivotal connection of the furcation with the housing.

Upon reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the latch plate is permitted to swing about its pivot 25 relative to the furcation 22 by means of an elongated slot 29 formed in the plate for receiving the hub ll of the furcation 22. It will also be noted in the above figure, that the latch plate 23 is provided with a rearwardly projecting extension 36 having a laterally outwardly projecting flange 3| forming a control conveniently positioned for engagement by one foot of the operator. The construction is such that movement of the control or flange 3| in a downward direction effects a rocking movement of the latch plate 23 about the axis of the pivot 25 rearwardly, or in a direction away from the cooperating keeper 32 secured to the housing H in advance of the forward end of the bail by means of the tap screw 33.

The keeper 32 is provided with a rearwardly extending upwardly inclined surface 34 adapted to be engaged by a lateral projection 35 at the forward end of the latch plate 23 when the latter is in its active position, shown in Figure 3. The exterior surface of the projection 35 is inclined to correspond to the surface 34 on the keeper and both surfaces extend substantially tangentially to a radius struck from the axis of the friction pivot 25 so as to permit the projection 35 to be disengaged from the keeper upon rocking movement of the latch plate 23 about the axis of the pivot 25 from the full line position, shown in Figure l, to the dotted line position, illustrated in the same figure. However, the axis of swinging movement of the handle is so located with respect to the axis of the pivot 25 and the keeper 32, that the inclined face 34 of the keeper forms an abutment for the projection on the latch plate 23 to prevent swinging movement of the handle l2 downwardly without first releasing the latch plate by depressing the control 3|.

Referring again to Figure 3 of the drawing, it will be noted that rocking movement of the latch plate 23 in a direction to release the projection 35 from the keeper 32 is resisted by means of a coil spring 36 housed within a bore in the forward end of the furcation 22 and having the front end thereof abutting a projection 38 extending laterally outwardly from the latch plate 23 into the bore through an elongated slot 39. The strength of the spring 36 is such as to overcome the friction offered to swinging movement of the latch plate 23 by the joint 25 and to return the latch plate to its operative position after the force exerted upon the control 3| is released by the operator. In this connection, attention is directed to the fact that the keeper 32 is provided with a cam face 40 located to cooperate with the projection 35 on the latch plate 23 to move the latch plate 23 rearwardly about its pivot 25 against the action of the spring 36 when the handle 20 is returned from the dotted line position, shown in Figure 1, to the full line position, illustrated in the same figure, whereupon the spring 36 functions to move the projection 35 into engagement with the latch surface 34. With this arrangement, it will be apparent that the latch mechanism is automatically operated to relatch the handle in its normal position in dependence upon movement of the handle to the latter position.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be noted that I have provided a relatively simple, inexpensive latch mechanism for holding the handle of the vacuum cleaner in a convenient position for manipulation, and operable to permit the handle to be lowered to such an extent as to provide for moving the cleaner within a space having a height approximating that of the cleaner housing. In addition, it will be noted that my improved latch mechanism permits the housing to be tilted by the handle about the axes of the rear casters I5 to raise the nozzle from the surface to be cleaned. This is desirable in that it not only facilitates movement of the cleaner over relatively small throw rugs, but also reduces the suction to such an extent as to prevent lifting of the rugs by the force of the suction.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a portable housing, a handle pivotally connected to the housing, latch mechanism for holding the handle in a predetermined position, said latch mechanism including a plate pivotally connected to the handle at a point spaced below the pivotal connection of the handle with the housing for swinging movement relative to the handle about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of the latter, and a keeper on the housing cooperating with a portion of the latch plate to prevent swinging movement of the handle in one direction and being so located with respect to the pivotal support for the plate to permit the latter to be rocked in a direction to release the portion aforesaid of the plate from the keeper.

2. In a vacuum cleaner having a portable housing, a handle pivotally connected to the housing, latch mechanism for holding the handle in a predetermined position, said latch mechanism including a plate pivotally connected to the handle at a point spaced below the pivotal connection of the handle with the housing for swinging movement relative to the handle about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of the latter, a keeper on the housing cooperating with a portion of the latch plate to prevent swinging movement of the handle in one direction and being so located with respect to the pivotal support for the plate to permit the latter to be rocked in a direction to release the portion aforesaid of the plate from the keeper, and means resisting rocking movement of the plate in a direction to release the same from engagement with the keeper.

3. In a vacuum cleaner having a portable housing, a handle pivotally connected to the housing, latch mechanism for holding the handle in a predetermined position, said latch mechanism in cluding a plate pivotally connected to the handle at a point spaced below the pivotal connection of the handle with the housing for swinging movement relative to the handle about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of the latter, a keeper on the housing cooperating with a portion of the latch plate to prevent swinging movement of the handle in one direction and being so located with respect to the pivotal support for the plate to permit the latter to be rocked in a direction to release the portion aforesaid of the plate from the keeper, and foot operated means for rocking the plate in the direction aforesaid thereof to release the same from engagement with the keeper.

4. In a vacuum cleaner having a portable housing, a handle pivotally connected to the housing, latch mechanism for holding the handle in a predetermined position, said latch mechanism including a plate pivotally connected to the handle at a point spaced below the pivotal connection of the handle with the housing for swinging movement relative to the handle about an axis parallel to the axis of swinging movement of the latter, a keeper on the housing cooperating with a portion of the latch plate to prevent swinging movement of the handle in one direction and being so located with respect to the pivotal support for the plate to permit the latter to be rocked in a direction to release the portion aforesaid of the plate from the keeper, yieldable means resisting rocking movement of the plate in a direction to release the same from engagement with the keeper, and means for rocking said plate against the action of the yieldable means to disengage the plate from the keeper.

KENNETH COURT. 

